How does Psalm 105:35 connect with the plagues in Exodus? Context in the Psalm • Psalm 105 recounts God’s mighty acts for Israel, moving chronologically from the patriarchs through the Exodus and wilderness. • Verses 26–36 summarize the ten plagues; v. 35 sits inside that summary. • The Psalmist is “remembering” so that each generation will trust and obey the LORD (vv. 5, 8–11). Exact Wording Psalm 105:35 — “They devoured all the vegetation in the land and consumed the fruit of their ground.” • “They” = the locusts of v. 34. • “All vegetation … fruit of their ground” matches the devastation recorded in Exodus. Direct Link to Exodus • v. 14 “The locusts swarmed across all the land of Egypt …” • v. 15 “They covered all the ground until it was black and devoured all the plants of the land and the fruit of the trees. Not a green leaf remained …” Psalm 105:35 clearly echoes this wording, affirming that the eighth plague literally stripped Egypt bare. How the Psalmist Uses the Exodus Narrative • Selective Retelling: Psalm 105 abbreviates the plagues (e.g., hail, frogs, locusts, death of firstborn) to spotlight God’s sovereign power. • Literary Parallelism: The verse mirrors Exodus phrase-for-phrase, reinforcing that the same God who judged Egypt also protects His covenant people. • Covenant Emphasis: Immediately after the plague summary, the Psalmist recalls the Passover protection (v. 37) and God leading Israel out (v. 38-41), tying judgment of Egypt to salvation of Israel. Theological Threads • Sovereignty: God commands nature; locusts obey His word (cf. Nahum 3:15-17; Joel 2:25). • Judgment and Mercy: Total crop destruction in Egypt contrasts with Israel’s untouched land (Exodus 10:23). • Faithfulness: The Psalmist cites the plague as evidence that God keeps His promises sworn to Abraham (Psalm 105:8-11). Practical Takeaways • History as Fuel for Faith: Remembering literal events like the locust plague builds confidence that God still intervenes. • Warning Against Hardness: Pharaoh’s refusal to heed God’s word led to escalating judgment (Exodus 10:3-6); the same principle stands today (Hebrews 3:7-13). • Assurance for Believers: If God could preserve Israel while overthrowing Egypt’s crops, He can sustain His people in any crisis (Matthew 6:26-34). Summary Psalm 105:35 repeats the Exodus locust plague almost verbatim, anchoring Israel’s worship in the factual, historic judgment God brought on Egypt. The verse serves as a memory marker that the LORD literally commands creation, keeps covenant promises, judges rebellion, and delivers His people. |
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